Teleconference tips

When holding a teleconference, ask everyone to call in from separate work spaces. When 2 or more people sit together, they engage in activities that reduce the team's effectiveness:

1. passing notes or whispering -- excludes others who are not colocated. Often these other folks can tell there is some side conversation elsewhere even when the mute button is on -- suddenly there is dead air and no one is responding to their comments. Also, while the 2 or more people are engaged in their side conversation, they miss information others share.
2. facial and physical gestures that imply disagreement or annoyance -- things that most people would not do in a meeting where everyone can see them

The optimum solution is to have everyone virtual.